The European Union (“EU”) has announced it will be launching a visa waiver program, The European Travel Information and Authorization System (“ETIAS”), beginning in May 2023. ETIAS is a travel authorization for visa-exempt non-EU nationals to travel into the Schengen Area, and other EU member states that are not part of the Schengen Area including Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania.

ETIAS will be a user friendly, automated online application system created to “identify any security or irregular migratory risks posed by visa-exempt visitors travelling to the Schengen area, whilst at the same time facilitate crossing borders for the vast majority of travellers who do not pose such risks.”

Similar to the United States’ visa waiver program the, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (“ESTA”), ETIAS will require foreign nationals from more than sixty non-European countries, including the US and the UK, travelling for tourism or business for stays of ninety days or less to pre-register travel for a fee of Seven Euros. Children under the age of eighteen, as well as adults over the age of seventy will be exempt from paying the fee. Once approved, ETIAS travel authorizations will be valid for three years, or until the expiration of the foreign national’s passport or travel document, and maintain validity for an unlimited number of entries.

Officials have noted “ETIAS will be a simple, fast and visitor-friendly system, which will, in more than 95% of cases, result in a positive answer within a few minutes.” We certainly hope they are correct!